Small Group Questions

1. The 16th century saying states "To err is human, to forgive, divine." What does this suggest about the nature of forgiveness? Why might forgiveness be described as "divine" rather than simply human?  

2. Biblical forgiveness is defined as "to send something away." How does this definition change or deepen your understanding of what it means to forgive someone?  

3. Bob described unforgiveness as freezing someone "in one frame" from years ago. Can you think of a time when you've done this to someone? How did it affect your relationship with that person?  

4. "Unforgiveness is setting yourself on fire and hoping the OTHER person dies of smoke inhalation." What does this metaphor reveal about who really suffers when we refuse to forgive?  

5. Matthew 18 tells the story of the servant who was forgiven a massive debt but refused to forgive a small one. What does this parable teach us about the relationship between receiving God's forgiveness and extending it to others?  

6. Stephen forgave those who were stoning him, saying "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Bob explained that Stephen put their offense "on Jesus' card" rather than holding it against them personally. How does this perspective change how we might approach forgiving others?  

7. "When we don't forgive, we don't believe the blood of Jesus extends to what that person did or said to us." How does viewing others' offenses through the lens of Christ's sacrifice affect our ability to forgive?  

8. The text distinguishes between forgetting and forgiving, saying forgiveness allows us to "remember without the same hurt/emotions." What's the difference between these two? Is it realistic to expect we'll forget offenses completely?  

9. Bob provided a specific prayer for releasing someone: "I release you to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ..." What are the key elements of this prayer? How might having a specific process help with forgiveness?  

10. "Forgiveness is freedom's secret weapon." In what ways does forgiveness bring freedom to the one who forgives? How might this motivate us to pursue forgiveness even when it's difficult? 

Mixed Bag - Fearless Forgiveness